California state laws have made drunk driving punishable by severe penalties and consequences. A DUI conviction can have a serious impact on your life — with sentences that include large fines, jail time, probation and the loss of future driving privileges.

Instead of protecting the public from property and violent crimes, the war on drugs in the United States has resulted in unjust, harsh penalties for nonviolent, victimless crimes. Mental illness or addiction can land a person in prison for years, even somebody who never hurt anyone or damaged property.

If your child has been arrested, it is important to take the matter seriously. Juvenile charges do not automatically get sealed at age 18 as many believe. A charge can stay there to haunt the child in later years making it more difficult to successfully apply for college, win a scholarship, get a good job or apply for loans.

Misdemeanors and felony convictions remain viewable on a person's record forever, unless action is taken to have them sealed. Depending on the severity of the arrest or charges, you may be able to have a criminal defense lawyer help you with an expungement.

When a person is arrested in California for a sex crime, they will likely be treated as if they have already been found guilty. This is backwards, as you are innocent until proven guilty of the crimes you have been charged with.

We are dedicated to assisting clients charged with violent crimes in the Los Angeles area. At Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP we understand that our clients can go to jail for years and spare no effort in their defense.

A felony conviction can have a lasting impact on your life. When facing felony charges, you need a vigorous criminal defense strategy. Our experienced lawyers determine the best course of action based on the evidence against you. We are committed to helping you avoid the hardships that result from a felony conviction.

If you have been arrested for a theft crime, we are ready to help you get fair treatment under the law. No matter the exact circumstances of your case, if you have recently been criminally charged with theft, it is in your best interests to get the involvement of an aggressive lawyer that you can trust.

Traffic offenses can have serious consequences. For some offenses such DUI you may have to spend time in jail, pay heavy fines and lose your driving privileges. Even if your charge is less serious, you may have to pay a stiff fine and have a charge on your record affecting insurance rates.

Los Angeles Possession for Sale Attorneys

Simple possession vs. possession for sale

When criminally charged for drug possession, it is important to realize that there are two separate kinds of possession, which will carry two different kinds of penalties. If it is determined that you have possession of a controlled substance for personal use, you will be facing severe penalties, however, they will be milder than if it is decided that your possession was for the intention of selling the drugs. This does not mean that you have actually sold the drugs (that is a separate offense) it merely means that you had the intention of doing so.

Determining intent in a Los Angeles possession case

So how is your intention determined? There are actually several different ways in which law enforcement and prosecutors will determine the intentions behind the drug possession. Although this is not formal, there are several factors that will be taken into consideration:

Quantity – This is very simple. If you have more drugs than what is deemed normal for personal use, this will lead law enforcement to believe that you had intentions to sell it. There are, however, defenses against this. For example, many will “buy in bulk” – quantity is not enough to determine a defendant had intentions to sell.

Packaging – If the drugs are separated and packaged into little quantities, such as if they were put into little bags, this could be evidence that you had intentions to sell each grouping.

Drug Paraphernalia – The possession of drug paraphernalia is a separate offense, however, if there is evidence that paraphernalia has been lying around it could be evidence to prove that the drug was for individual use – not for sale.

While one of the above alone cannot be decisive evidence to prove your intentions, several together could form a foundation of a case. If you have been accused of possessing drugs, especially if it has been determined that it was actual possession, it is highly encouraged that you contact a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer to help protect your future.

If you cannot successfully get the charges dismissed, it could be possible for the penalties to be reduced. For example, if you were found to be under the influence of the drugs, it could be used as an argument that they were for personal use – not with the intentions of selling. While this could still lead to criminal charges of possession or even being under the influence of a controlled substance under §11440 of the Health and Safety Code – these are minor penalties in comparison.

In some cases, your lawyer may not be able to avoid conviction or even a reduction in charges, but they could fight for eligibility in a drug diversion program instead of incarceration. For this reason, it is extremely important that you get a competent and heavyweight lawyer in your corner to help you fight for the best outcome for you personally – looking at all of the evidence and striving to help defend your best interests.

Experienced drug attorney serving Southern California

At Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP, our legal team has experience dealing with all areas of criminal law. Should you choose to work with us, you will be able to be confident knowing that every avenue of defense will be explored. We recognize what is on the line and we will exhaustively fight to help you defend your best interests. We have experience as former prosecutors and bring to the table a full-bodied understanding of the law. As we know both sides of the courtroom, we are able to understand the mentality of our opponents and decipher their way of thinking. This “insider’s advantage” can give you the edge that you need in court – and can be ultimately used to help you defend your freedom against the possibility of conviction.

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